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This project is very basic but will make sanding your projects so much better.
Materials
Tools
Table or circular saw
Hammer
Steps
Step 1
1/5Cut 2 lengths of timber at 125 x 226mm
Cut 2 lengths of timber at 125 x 250mm
Cut hole board to 250mm x 250mm
Cut timber to 250mm x 250mm
Step 2
2/5Glue the sides together. I used Liquid Nails but PVA should work fine. The glue will help make a tight seal so air won’t leak in.
Feel free to use panel pins to hold everything together as glue dries.
Step 3
3/5Once sides are set glue the timber to the base and the hole board to the top.
Once again, glue creates a tight seal.
Now the only air able to get in will be from hole board.
I used panel pins in each of the corners just to hold everything square as the glue dried.
Step 4
4/5Measure the diameter of your vacuum hose and cut a hole in the side that size.
Mine wasn’t quite the right size so I ended up putting some little pieces of wood around to support hose.
I also had a spare shop vac hose which allowed me to plug my sander in. This meant I had to make another hole on the other side for the hose.
Step 5
5/5I have just bought a dust collector which is low pressure and high volume. This makes dust removal so much better. But as you’re making box for your equipment, it’s going to work just as well with a shop vac.
What this box does is allow the dust to drop into the holes of the hole board and get sucked into the vac. Gravity is doing a lot of the work and thus there is very little dust blowing around.
The amount of dust is reduced from the tool if you find a way to connect your tool. This saves wear and tear on your tool and also reduces wear on your sanding pads.
It works just as well using power sander as hand sander.
What a clever and practical project @woodenwookie—nicely done! I don’t think I’ve seen a setup quite like this before either. Having a dedicated sanding platform that actively draws dust down through the peg board is a brilliant idea, especially for anyone working in a small space or trying to keep the mess to a minimum. It’s simple, cost-effective and looks really effective. Gravity doing the heavy lifting while the vacuum keeps things clean is such a smart combination. You’ve basically created a mini sanding station with built-in dust extraction—very cool invention!
I wonder if you could make a larger version to cover half your bench top. I can see a practical use in various hobbies, from woodwork to model making. It would make a great spray painting station too.
Mitchell
I built a new version this afternoon.
I made it longer and wider. I also made the base wider. This gives a nice place to clamp to the desk to stop everything moving around.
I used a jigsaw to cut the hole for the vacuum. This made for a tighter fit than the hole saw. I’m not sure if I’ll add the hole for the sander itself or if I’ll just use the shop vac as well. I probably will though.
